Finding a Career in Caricature Design: Creating a Portfolio

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As a caricaturist, your portfolio is your resume. It allows you to present your work when you are applying for classes or jobs- or when you approach galleries to feature some of your work. You must keep in mind that some applications are going to have strict guidelines as to what you can show and how you should organize your portfolio. Then again, others give you a little more wiggle-room to showcase your own creativity.

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Read Requirements: Creating a Portfolio

The very first step in creating a portfolio to showcase your work is to make sure that you read all requirements. After all, if you are applying somewhere that has taken the time to list specific guidelines, it only makes sense to follow them. Sometimes you may be required to provide a cover letter, a caricaturist statement, or even a brief bio. Chances are, if you don’t stick to their guidelines, they won’t even consider you as an option.

Make it Appealing

The whole purpose of creating a portfolio is to showcase your talents in a way that is visually appealing. You should make sure that your images are matted and straight. While it’s true that you can make it creative and visually interesting, you should also focus on the work that you are presenting instead of the creativity of the portfolio itself.

Only Show Finished Pieces

Make sure that you only show pieces that you have finished. You want to showcase your center of interest along with your personal style and your technical ability.

Only Show Best Work

This can be a bit tricky. You must make sure that you are objective about your work and become your own worst critic. Of course, you can always ask for outside help, but in the end, you are the one that should be making the decision as to what you showcase.

Avoid Showing Too Much

In most cases, a selection of 10-20 pieces should be more than enough to showcase your work. After all, the people who are reviewing your portfolio are likely reviewing many others as well. You want to make sure you are concise and efficient in your presentation because you’re getting a very limited amount of their time and attention.

Know Your Audience

When you are creating your portfolio, make sure that you consider what your audience is most interested in and make your selections accordingly. You want to make sure you choose the work that communicates exactly what it is that you want that particular audience to see.

It’s About the Impression

One of the best strategies in creating a portfolio is to place one of your best works at the beginning and another really great one at the end. This way, you ensure a good first impression and last impression.

Bigger Really is Better

Typically, it’s much better to show larger images of your work. The most common format for a portfolio is A3.

Pay Attention to Details

As they say, the devil is in the details- you must pay close attention to the little things when it comes to your portfolio. For example, you want to make sure that all of your work is labeled with a title, the date it was created, and the medium that was used. A clean portfolio indicates that you do care about your work.

In addition, you want to make sure that there is some cohesion in the pieces you are showcasing in terms of subject, style, and color. Make sure that you try grouping the works in a logical progression.

Use Photos When Appropriate

If you have an original piece that is too large to include in your portfolio, that doesn’t mean you can’t use it at all, you will just need to display it in a photo. However, when you do use photos in lieu of the originals, you’ll want to pay close attention to the quality of the photos. Make sure that you use proper lighting, and there’s no glare or visible frame.

Meet the Press

Finally, you might consider adding some articles and/or press releases at the end of your portfolio to indicate your experience. In addition, invitation cards for exhibitions can be a great addition.

As a caricaturist, your portfolio is your resume- it reveals your experience. There may be times when you will need to have one for a class, a job, or even a gallery exhibition. These tips will help ensure that your caricature design portfolio rises above the rest.

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